No Brexit cliff edge says Leo
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has insisted negotiations on the UK’S split from Europe are not on a cliff edge to a hard Brexit.
On arrival at the European summit in Brussels, he urged Britain to bring forward detail on the border questions and customs relations.
With German Chancellor Angela Merkel saying there are encouraging signs talks on future UK/EU trade relations could begin as early as December, Mr Varadkar also said he was optimistic of more common ground in the Brexit talks by next month.
He added progress had been made on the Irish border, “just not enough”.
The Fine Gael leader added suggestions of a customs partnership between the UK and the EU, rather than a union, must be teased out. He said: “I find it difficult to square the circle of having a customs partnership which is very like the union we have now but at the same time Britain engaging in trade deals with third parties.
“A customs union is a little like a marriage – once you are committed to it, you are committed to it.”
The Taoiseach said Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier’s assessment of the talks should focus minds in the run up to December and amid mounting pressure for movement on the trade issue.
But he distanced himself from remarks by Ireland’s EU Commissioner Phil Hogan who said negotiations on the UK’S split from Europe are on a cliff edge to a hard Brexit.
Mr Varadkar added: “I think we have a way to go yet.
“Brexit does not happen until April 2019. We are quite far back from the cliff edge.”